Head In The Clouds

Lexi called for Lilly and asked for a bowl of popcorn as she sat on the floor, sifting through movies.

“One bowl of popcorn, coming right up, and don”t worry, I won’t burn it like Ashley always does,” Lilly promised.

From behind the thin blue curtain, I heard a small voice yell, “Hey, that was one time!”

“More like three,” Lilly smirked while disappearing behind the curtain herself.

“Oh, and blankets, please!” Lexi added.

“I’m on it!” Lilly answered.

“No, I’ll do that. You focus on not burning the popcorn!”

“That was you, not me!”

I laughed to myself at their banter. It seemed like Lilly and Ashley had known each other for years. Did they meet as flight attendants? How were they so close? Work friendships, or any friendships for that matter, didn’t really work out for me. How long did you have to know someone to have that kind of relationship because there was no one in my life who I bonded with like that. A new job meant my old friends would stop contacting me, and I would have to start all over from square one. I want what Lilly and Ashley had.

“So, what’s the story with those two?” I asked.

Lexi seemed confused at first before realizing who I was talking about. “Oh, Ashley and Lilly? They”re married. Five years this December.”

Oh.

Maybe that’s why I wanted what they had.

“No. Fucking. Way.”

“Way,” she laughed. They had that whole married couple bickering thing going on. It was kind of cute. “So, what kind of movies do you like?” Lexi asked.

“Action. No contest.”

“Okay, so looks like I have The Tomorrow War, Oblivion, 2012—”

“Oh, 2012! I love that movie!” I yelled excitedly as I shimmied in my seat.

Lexi winced at my volume. “I’m not deaf, you know.”

“Is this better?” I whispered.

Lexi glared at me. “Up until this point, I enjoyed your company, but now I only tolerate it.”

“Rude!”

It was a strange feeling, but I felt so at ease when I was with Lexi. Even though I was in a metal tin, thousands of feet in the air, surrounded by people I never knew until today, I somehow felt like I belonged. I tried to tuck my legs under me, but the tight fabric of my jeans prevented me from moving. I shifted on the couch uncomfortably as I became a little more aware of the fact that I should have worn an outfit that I could lounge about in for the plane ride instead of jeans. Pulling at the ends of my sweater, I stretched the fabric, hoping it would loosen its grip on me. Emotionally comfortable but physically uncomfortable. Story of my life. Couldn’t have it both ways.

“You okay?”

“I just have no idea why I thought the best loungewear for a plane ride was jeans and a sweater.”

“Oh, you can borrow something from my room. I have sweats and t-shirts back there in the drawers,” Lexi suggested nonchalantly while loading up the movie.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” Lexi shrugged while pushing herself off the floor.

“My bedroom is behind that door and straight back.” She pointed to the rear of the plane, where Brian and Andrew had disappeared to.

“Okay, but just know that if I put one of your shirts on, you may never get it back.”

“Better not be the shirt with the skull on it then!” She yelled, sounding quieter as I had put some distance between us.

Walking back, I saw three doors and continued to the one that was directly straight ahead. When I went inside, I was met with a scent of cherry as it wafted through the air. Her room was huge…for a plane. She had a large bed with a gray comforter in the center and two nightstands on either side. There was a gray lamp resting on the right one. Above her bed was a large abstract painting filled with whites, blacks, grays, and golds that all collided in a swirl-like pattern. Scanning the room, I noticed a white dresser perched against the left wall as I made my way over to it. I opened each drawer until I found something I thought would work for lounging around—a gray sweatshirt and green sweats. I took of my clothes so fast, if there was a world record for fastest time to get undressed, I would’ve won it. I sighed in relief as I donned the new, more comfortable clothes. While heading back toward the door, I stopped short of the way there and turned around to rummage through the drawers again. After finding what I was looking for, I exited the room and headed into the main area.